Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD): The Successor to Traditional On-Premises RDS and VDI Deployments
Many small and mid-sized businesses are accustomed to using Remote Desktop or similar solutions (like Citrix, VMware View, etc.), primarily to enable “remote access” to applications hosted on local server infrastructure.
But like VPNs, I’d argue that Remote Desktop, VDI, WVD, and other similar variations are increasingly legacy solutions to an outdated problem.
Breaking Down the VDI Myth
A few years ago, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) was marketed as the ultimate solution: cost-effective, easy to maintain, offering seamless productivity and transformative benefits for end-users.
The idea was simple—by centralizing critical applications and data in a secure datacenter, accessible from any endpoint, organizations could reduce costs, simplify deployments, and minimize endpoint management concerns.
In reality, however, companies discovered that VDI didn’t meet those promises. Endpoints—no matter how minimal—still required security and management. As a result, organizations ended up managing both endpoints and virtual desktops, adding to complexity.
And while thin clients may cost less than traditional desktops, those savings were quickly overshadowed by infrastructure and maintenance costs needed for complex virtual environments. Ultimately, VDI deployments proved costly and challenging to maintain, often with performance and stability issues over time.
In my experience, companies that transitioned back to workstation-class laptops or desktops found an immediate improvement, often saying things like, “This is so much better—so much snappier!” The performance and simplicity of a well-equipped workstation can often restore stability to formerly complex VDI setups.
Where Windows Virtual Desktop Can Shine
That said, for organizations that need to centrally manage and deliver traditional Windows-based applications, a Remote Desktop or Remote App solution remains one of the best options—and WVD promises to streamline this, offering an improved experience with easier setup and management.
In the SMB market, VDI is rarely affordable to implement well. Delivering a great user experience requires specialized engineering and powerful infrastructure, often beyond the reach of IT generalists working with standard server hardware.
WVD offers a compelling alternative by delivering a Windows 10 desktop experience, while Microsoft manages much of the underlying complexity, including:
- Perimeter security
- Real Windows 10 desktops (multi-session or individual)
- Access from any device, including web browsers
- An optimized Office 365 experience
- Fast access to Office 365 data
However, even with WVD’s potential advantages, I rarely recommend a remote desktop or VDI-like solution in the SMB market, whether on Azure’s WVD or another platform.
Want to know why? Stay tuned for my next post!